Peter Pauper Press invites you to celebrate National Zoo Keeper Week, July 20-26 and a chance to win two books that celebrate zoos as well as zoo keepers and their dedication to animal care, conservation and education.

The Zoo is Closed Today
written by Evelyn Beilenson, illustrated by Anne Kennedy:

It was a warm sunny day
with not much to do.
So Sue and John walked
to the Kalamazoo.

But when John and Sue arrive at the zoo, they are in for a big surprise! What
is wrong with all of the animals? From Edward the elephant to Marcel the
monkey, the animals have tummy aches and toothaches, runny noses and sore
throats. Pete the zookeeper can barely keep up with taking care of them and has
to close the zoo. And the next day, John and Sue are in for an even bigger
surprise! This charming tale, illustrated with humor and warmth, demonstrates
the value of sweet friendship.

What a sweet book about two kids who head out for an exciting day at the zoo but find out that all the animals are sick with various aliments.

We loved the illustrations and the sweet story of all the animals often humorous aliments.

Zeke the zebra lies in the shade with the flu feeling black, white and blue. Or the elephant that gets nose drops through a garden hose. Come on that's cute and funny. My kids and I thoughts so anyway.

Then there is....

At The Zoo Scratch & Sketch: An
Art Activity Book for Animal Lovers
by Lee Nemmers, illustrated by Martha Day Zschock

This fun and easy Trace-Along art activity book allows budding
artists (5 and up) to use the wooden drawing tool enclosed to trace the white
outlines of favorite animals on black-coated scratch art pages. Kids will be
delighted to see lions, tigers, bears, seals, and more come alive in swirls of
colors and glittery foil! They can also use the sketch pages in the back to
draw their own pictures of favorite animals. At the Zoo
Scratch & Sketch Art Activity Book includes a
wooden stylus for drawing on black-coated paper to reveal glittering, gleaming
colors beneath, wire-o-bound hardcover binding and 20 scratch off, 20
illustrated and 20 sketch pages.

What a fun book. Goddess took it out right away because she loved that she gets to use the wooden stylus to scrap away at reveal some awesome colorful pics of some of her favorite animals. Each page has a picture to be scratched off, some interesting facts and 20 sketch pages.

I have to admit, I found it fun revealing the glitter pages beneath.

Both books are wonderful but we really loved the idea of the Scratch and Sketch. Perfect for road trips, plane trips, camping or visits to relatives where kids could use a diversion for boredom. No mess and the stylus comes with it.

If you think your little ones will love these books as much as mine do, please enter for a chance to win both thanks to Peter Pauper Press.

My daughter would love "the Zoo is closed today" because she loves for me to read books with animals to her, and my son would love At The Zoo Scratch & Sketch: An Art Activity Book for Animal Lovers because he loves to doodle!